Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1887-05-28
PROSPERITY.
Benefits to be Derived From the
Completion Of Tongue River
Irrieating Canal.
Root Crops and Cereals Promise
to Eclipse the Yield of
Former Years.
MORE MOISTURE.


Tongue River Ditch to be Completed-
Full Confidence Restored to the Ranch
men-Pienty Of the Aqueous Fluid Prom
ised settlers.
Notwithstanding the damage done
to the Miles City irrigating ditch last
spring during the Ice gorge and un-
usually high water, confidence is
again restored to the resident ranch
men who are holding on to their
homes through faith that at some
future time, and may 1t be hoped no
distant day, when the reward will
surely come. MANIFOLD greater, too,
than looked for. 1t is surely an enter
prise that augurs ten times to the pros
perity Of Miles City more than any
other, and Its early completion will be
heralded with joy by every settler in
the valley. The enterprise las been
carried on under discouraging circum.
stances, but its early completion Ia an
assured fact now to all who are famil.
lar with the present construction Of
the last dam and the workings os
other portions. None Of the past mis-
takes that proved 30 disastrous TO the
old company discourage the new and
present company. but II is going on
with renewed energy and firm reli-
snce in our future prosperity and sue.
cess. AS II now stands the present
work must be pushed to completion re-
gardless OF the outlay, for too much of
the future prosperity and success of
the country depends entirely upon the
ditch for their moisture. for Providence
has 30 far failed to make the supply
equal the demand. There may not be
any water In the ditch the present
season for practical use but this 10
hardly necessary, for the heavy SHOWS
Of the past winter and unusually
heavy rains during the fall of 's6, the
demand for water 10 not what II has
been for the two preceding years. A
detailed account Of the construction.
cost, eic.. has already been published
In the columns of the JOURNAL, 90 II
10 quite unnecessary to again speak of
the construction; but, suffice 1t to say,
the work has been well done. and IL 10
hardly possible II the whole force of
Tongue river could be brought to bear
upon the dam that the effect would be
noticeable In any way. To be sure
one approach was somewhat damaged
last spring, but the repairing which
will be commenced a. soon as the
water subsidies from the present rise,
can be done at q nominal cost. The
work at the bluff is found to be the
most expensive Of all that is along the
entire line Of the ditch.
The work Is very heavy and
expensive, and the cost will be great
without the fume, which 10 rather
formidable. This ditch when COM
pleted will be beneficial to Miles City
and the valley below US as well as the
Tongue river valley alone. The
Tongue and Yellowstone valleys both
have sn abundance of nllable soil, and
some of the finest locations for ranches
anywhere In the northwest. Much of
the adjoining land that is now as bar
rem as the desert will be directly trib-
utary to the land irrigated, and this
will all be reclaimed for agricultural
uses as soon az brought under the re-
viving influences of abundant irriga.
ton. It is problem ofthe easiest solu.
ton TO any practical person what the
advantages will be that arise from the
thousands Of acres that will then be
titled 10 our vicinity. Experimental
farming or ranching has about had its
day In eastern Montana; and people
are as general thing quite willing to
believe that to have irrigation the sue.
cess and returns would be many times
greater than what they are. How
ever. the present prospect for a. good
grass crop. an abundance Of hay. and
q root crop that will equal that of 'sl
and 's2, lie looked for and expected
by all. And the acreage Of
cereals sown this year 10 large.
As usual thing In the history Of the
farming during the past, the root crop
has hardly ever been . total failure,
when the cereals would unavoidably
succumb 10 the almost torrid heat OF
July. But with plentiful irrigation
looked for from nature, II derived at
the proper time the loss OF crop
need not be anxious. Copious rains
are very good thing, bnt Providence
cannot be trusted for this supply ana
man must supply II srtifcially. Irri'
CATION is necessity and must be ap-
piled 10 The soil In our valleys. that. 90
far ~ experiments have been made,
IN --f.ta A. -.~lfQ~ ss,auoox n Il